November 22, 2016

Bryan Levin takes a look at some of the top defensive players (IDP) to add for Week 12 of the 2016 fantasy football season.

Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire Adds

Happy Thanksgiving, Rotoballers! Welcome to our weekly columns to help you win on the defensive side of the ball. Today we are here to review some IDP waiver wire pickups for Week 12. Week 11 saw mixed results, with some hits (Olivier Vernon, Ryan Shazier, D’Qwell Jackson, Kam Chancellor) and some whiffs (Frank Clark, Kevin Byard, Kenny Vaccaro).

The following players are not necessarily “must start” players for IDP leagues, but rather, players that currently have below 25% ownership levels (in Yahoo! Leagues) and are suggested deep-league IDP additions for this week.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

Linebackers - Week 12 IDP Waiver Adds

Dannell Ellerbe, Saints

Matchup: vs. Rams

Ownership: 0%

The Saints' linebacker situation has been one of the most difficult to predict for IDP owners in 2016. Most IDP drafts featured Stephone Anthony and James Laurinaitis as the only selections from this group of linebackers. Since then, Anthony has inexplicably been benched all season long and Laurinaitis was released. The most two productive Saints linebackers to this point have been Craig Robertson and Nate Stupar, two offseason additions signed for depth.

In a season of strange contributions, it’s time to add in Ellerbee, a guy with a little more of a pedigree that missed much of the season with an injury. In his last two games, Ellerbe has managed 11 total tackles (though only four solo) but has gotten his points from sacking the quarterback. With Jared Goff looking as lost and ineffective as he did last week, expect the veteran to have several chances to bring him down in Week 12.

Derrick Morgan, Titans

Matchup: @ Bears

Ownership: 4%

I have been tempted for several weeks to put Morgan on the IDP waiver wire list, but have always talked myself out of it. Eleven weeks into the former first rounder's career season, and I cannot deny him a spot any further. Morgan has already set a new career high in sacks (eight) and gets a nice matchup against a Bears line that has been shaky at best for years. Understand that Morgan is exclusively used to rush the passer for Tennessee, so his low tackle totals give him a pretty low floor. If you feel good about Morgan continuing his impressive sack performance, then he remains a nice option for Week 12.

Dont’a Hightower, Patriots

Matchup: @ Jets

Ownership: 10%

Following the trade of Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns three weeks ago, many rushed to the waiver wire to pick up the little known Elandon Roberts. While Roberts has been largely ineffective thus far from an IDP standpoint, it's been the veteran Hightower that has stepped up, combining for 16 total tackles (11 solo) in the two games since the Collins trade. Adding onto those strong tackle numbers, Hightower managed a sack and a forced fumble last week as well. As the Jets offense remains in disarray, Hightower will be an excellent IDP option this week.

Lawrence Timmons/Ryan Shazier, Steelers

Matchup: @ Colts (Thursday)

Ownership: 15%/18%

Timmons has been one the most steady IDP linebackers throughout his lengthy career in Pittsburgh. Despite obvious signs of regression earlier in the year, Timmons has been red hot over the past month, scoring above or around double-digit fantasy points (depending on your format) in three of his previous four games.

Shazier was on this list for Week 11, has been dominant since the Steelers' Week 8 bye, and should be added in all IDP formats based on his recent production. Colts QB Andrew Luck is looking doubtful for Thursday night due to a concussion, and the Steelers defensive players should have plenty to be thankful for. Timmons and Shazier especially should stand to benefit, as the Colts offense this season has been just brutal against opposing ‘backers.

Danny Trevathan, Bears

Matchup: vs. Titans

Ownership: 41% (I know, I know)

I am breaking my own rules here, as Trevethan is currently 41% owned. His own play warrants a higher ownership, and he has been on a tear in back-to-back weeks, registering at least nine solo tackles and rarely leaving the field for the Bears' paper thin linebacker corps. However, 41% is still not enough for me, and with the news that fellow linebacker and IDP stalwart Jerrell Freeman will be suspended four games, Trevathan becomes a must own linebacker in all IDP formats. His production will continue at a strong rate over the final weeks of the fantasy regular season and into the playoffs. I would be shocked if he is not 50% owned by Sunday.

Defensive Linemen - Week 12 IDP Waiver Adds

Trey Flowers, Patriots

Matchup: @ Jets

Ownership: 2%

The Jets' offensive line has been one of the many issues plaguing gang green in 2016. Offseason retirements, ineffective play, and injuries have reduced this unit to a group of journeyman and unproven young players. Flowers, a second-year defensive end for the Patriots, has four sacks in his last three games and stands to benefit from a strong division matchup this weekend. His ability to contribute in the tackle column as well (12 total in those same three games), gives him a slightly higher floor than a “sack or bust” shot in the dark.

Stephon Tuitt, Steelers

Matchup: @ Colts (Thursday)

Ownership: 4%

Tuitt is not your traditional pass rushing beast off the edge. He’s a big 3-4 end that has shown a natural ability to get to the quarterback in his brief career. He leads the Steelers in sacks (only 3.5), which have all come in back-to-back games! Maybe it took the big guy a few weeks (months?) to get going, but it appears that he is on track and faces a Colts offense in Week 12 that is averaging 3.5 sacks allowed per contest. The Steelers may lack a consistent pass rush, but the Colts are the perfect remedy for that, especially without Andrew Luck. Tuitt is almost too sure of a bet to add to his total.

Defensive Backs - Week 12 IDP Waiver Adds

Tavon Wilson, Lions

Matchup: vs. Vikings (Thursday)

Ownership: 0%

The former Patriot bust has found a home on the NFC North-leading Lions defense, helping to solidify it at the back end. As Wilson has increasingly seen more snaps on the field, his play has improved as well. He has registered at least five solo tackles in his last three games, providing a safe floor out of the DB slot. Wilson turned in an excellent Week 11 performance, continuing his strong play by providing useful tackle numbers while adding a pass deflection and an interception. The Lions finally deserve the nation's attention in a meaningful Thanksgiving afternoon tilt, and if you are looking for some action in the battle for division supremacy, Wilson is a nice choice against Sam Bradford and the Vikings O.

Donte Whitner, Redskins

Matchup: @ Cowboys (Thursday)

Ownership: 1%

Whitner’s career looked as though it was over when he was released by the talent-needy Browns in April and remained unsigned at the start of the season. Picked up by Washington in Week 6, the 11-year veteran has looked better every game and has combined for eight or more total tackles over the previous three weeks. Whitner has always been a useful DB in IDP leagues because of his tackling prowess and seems to be entrenched in the Skins' defensive backfield. He will be called upon heavily in a huge Thanksgiving day matchup against the arch-rival Cowboys.

Daryl Worley, Panthers

Matchup: @ Raiders

Ownership: 3%

I was tempted to go with the red hot Darian Stewart here, but Worley deserves some love for his IDP production as a CB over the last four games. The rookie has put up an impressive 32 total tackles over that stretch, including 23 solo stops. He has also pitched in with a sack and two pass deflections. While the rookie has yet to generate a turnover, he faces the resurgent Raiders and their vaunted passing attack this week. That, combined with his high tackle numbers, make him a pretty safe play in Week 12.